Baltimore City Delegate Curt Anderson talks about the postponement of his committee hearings. Download This File

Next week's scheduled hearing of the House Judiciary Committee to investigate problems at the Baltimore City Detention Center has been postponed.

The committee was supposed to meet Wednesday, but a spokeswoman for House Speaker Michael Busch told WBAL News the panel is delaying its meeting until after a public meeting takes place before both delegates and senators next month.

Busch and Senate President Mike Miller announced Friday they will appoint a task force to identify legislative and budgetary measures to address contraband and corruption problems at the Baltimore City Detention Center.

The problems were outlined in a federal indictment last week.

The task force will be charged with recommending steps that could be taken during next year's legislative session.

The date for next month's briefing has not been set. The task force will be named after the briefing.

Both Bush and Miller commended Gary Maynard, who heads the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services, for initiating a federal investigation that led to 25 indictments, including 13 correctional officers. However, the speaker noted it is the responsibility of the Legislature to ask the tough questions about what isn't working in the state's prison system.

"We need to take a broader look at the policies governing the correctional system, including hiring, training and disciplinary processes and efforts to combat gang violence," Busch, D-Anne Arundel, said in a statement. "I think it is only appropriate that we do this in conjunction with the Senate and leaders from each committee and both parties, given the importance of these issues."

Miller, D-Calvert, said the issue warrants the Legislature's immediate attention.

"While we have to be very careful not to impede or interfere with the integrity of the legal process surrounding these indictments, we have to seriously evaluate what can be done to combat this kind of insidious criminal activity in the state's correctional system," Miller said.

The briefing before the Legislative Policy Committee is scheduled for June. The panel includes the chairs of committees and the leadership of both parties. An exact day has not yet been set.

The indictment, released last week by federal prosecutors, alleges that a gang called the Black Guerrilla Family ran a contraband- and drug-smuggling scheme from inside the detention center. It charges gang members and corrections officers with conspiracy, drug possession and distribution and money laundering. The ring involved sex between inmates and guards that led to four of the officers becoming pregnant.

Baltimore City Delegate Curt Anderson, who sits on the House Judiciary Committee, told WBAL News that he understands why his panel's hearing is delayed, but he says lawmakers will continue to investigate.

WBAL-TV's David Collins reports that a top O'Malley administration aide has been discouraging lawmakers in private meetings from holding a legislative inquiry, originally planned for next week.

"We have a zero tolerance policy toward corruption of any kind," O'Malley said.

But in private meetings with legislators, one of his top aides is discouraging lawmakers from holding a legislative inquiry on the issue. The expressed concern is about timing and scope -- whether it's too soon and too narrow.

Anderson say told WBAL Radio that lawmakers investigation will proceed.

"Not to be impolite to the administration, but they are the executive branch. We're the legislative branch, and I don't really care what they want," Anderson said.

"I think our members, senators and delegates, need to have answers to questions that our constituents are asking us. I think it would be almost malpractice on our part if we didn't demand these kinds of hearings, and the executive branch should attend."